Right now it is 12:45 and I am considering whether or not a workout it worth it. I have a class at 2, so I am going to say no. Definitely not enough time for changing, getting sweaty, and then trying to get ready for class again.
I enjoyed my winter break because I was able to workout whenever I wanted to. Morning or afternoon, it didn’t matter. Whenever I felt like going for a workout I had the time and flexibility. Being in college I definitely have a lot of flexibility with my workout schedule – I have worked out at 10 in the morning between classes and I have worked out at midnight. In the past it all depended on what I felt like doing. Often that ended up in not going at all. Now I know I must work out, so I need to pick a time that works with my schedule and stick with it.
Britney Spears does her workout from 1 – 3. This might work for Britney, but I don’t think I would enjoy that time of day for working out. I usually reserve that period for sleep.
I have always heard that working out in the morning is best for you, but my morning starts right before class, so that won’t work either. Here is an article with opposing advice: a late afternoon workout is best for your body.
Dr. Phyllis Zee of Northwestern University has a different opinion about when is the ideal time to exercise.
“The best time to work out is in the late afternoon,” Zee said. “The reason for that is your muscle strength is at its peak, its highest. You’re going to be less likely to injure yourself. It’s also a time when people are most awake and alert.”
The science behind Zee’s assertion resides with delicate rhythms of the brain called circadian rhythms. According to Zee, circadian rhythms explain why working out later in the day might be more productive and beneficial.
“One of the things that circadian rhythms does is that it determines when your best performance time is,” Zee said. “Your ability to perform changes throughout 24 hours.”
“There is some evidence that morning exercise promotes more fat burning than other times of the day, but the difference is so small that it really wouldn’t matter,” said Richard Cotton, an exercise physiologist. “And if you’re going to exercise inconsistently in the morning, then it’s not worth it at all.”
What do you think? When is the best time to workout for you?
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I think anytime is a great time for working out! (I personally go after work at 6:30, on days when I don’t work it varies) Just remember if you think you don’t have the time – you are wrong. ANYTHING is better than nothing at all. If you feel like working out but don’t have time to go the gym start doing jumping jacks or find some stairs. Do 10 min of curcuit training with 3 different exercises you can do w/o exercise equipment. Whatever you do, it is more than you would have done w/o going to the gym. Just remember, your goal should be to do more than you did yesterday. That will ALWAYS keep you moving forward.
I think anytime is great for a workout as long as you get a workout in.
Personally, I prefer mornings. I like to get up early and make sure I get my workout in. I find that if I don’t get it out of the way then the odds of my finding an excuse to put it off increase dramatically..
Having said that, sometimes it is just not possible to do a morning workout. The trick for me then is to just make some time and DO IT instead of skipping it.
interesting..I woudlnt have thought time of a day would make a difference. all I know is that you should eat afterwards because your metabolism is sky high.
I agree…it is so much easier to exercise in college. I had the free rec center and it was wonderful.
Hmmm, personally it’s better for me to workout IMMEDIATELY when I get home from work at night. Come home, change clothes and get RIGHT on the treadmill…
…Otherwise, if I sit down… I’m down for the count! :)
I say whatever works for you – I workout twice a day, so I guess I could say, “I couldn’t choose”?
I will say that I feel less rushed in the morning; I don’t need to have the thought of traffic and getting ready for work in the back of my mind – my evening workouts are about 2 hours long while my morning ones are 1 hour.
I think the best time is the one that suits you and your schedule. Really!
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